Regulations: DMV Redesign of Driver’s Licenses / Identification Cards

Summary:

In September 2025, the DMV began issuing driver's licenses and identification cards (DL/IDs) that do not contain the magnetic strip currently required by Penal Code section 28180 for firearms dealers and ammunition vendors to obtain a purchaser's name, date of birth, and driver's license or identification number for purposes of a firearms or ammunition purchase background check.

The Department completed emergency rulemaking, and emergency regulations were approved by the Office of Administrative Law on June 23, 2026. The purpose of the emergency package was to allow and require firearms dealers and ammunition vendors to use scanning devices to read identity information on the new DL/IDs. Currently, Penal Code section 28180 requires: "The purchaser's name, date of birth, and driver's license or identification number shall be obtained electronically from the magnetic strip on the purchaser's driver's license or identification and shall not be supplied by any other means, except as authorized by the department." (Pen. Code, § 28180, subd. (a).) The package authorizes and requires firearms dealers and ammunition vendors to use scanners to obtain information from the new DL/IDs, pursuant to Penal Code section 28180's clause allowing for other means of obtaining the information "as authorized by the department." Without the emergency regulation to allow and require firearms dealers and ammunition vendors to obtain this information by another method—in particular, by scanning the (newly implemented) bar code on the DL/ID—firearms dealers and ammunition vendors will type in the information manually, which will increase the potential for data entry errors.

The emergency regulations will expire on December 22, 2026. This rulemaking package will make the Department’s emergency regulations permanent.

NOTE: Regulation documents prepared by the Department may contain markup including underline, strikethrough, or highlight. While these documents are ADA-compliant, upon request, the Department can prepare a more screen reader-friendly version of these documents with annotations that explain the marked changes. Please submit all requests to regulations@doj.ca.gov.

Sections Affected:

California Code of Regulations, Title 11, Division 5, Chapters 4 and 10

Adopt Section: 4045.2

Amend Sections: 4282, 4284, 4285

Notice Register Publication Date: October 30, 2026

Status of the Proposal:

This rulemaking is undergoing a 45-day public comment period. Any person or their authorized representative may submit written comments regarding the proposed regulatory action. The written comment period closes at 5:00 pm on December 15, 2026. All timely comments that specifically pertain to the proposed regulations will be reviewed and responded to by Department staff. Comments may be submitted by mail or email to:

The information below relates to recent rulemaking activity, including links to the regulations text and associated documents. Any person who has submitted a comment regarding a proposed action has the right to request a copy of the Final Statement of Reasons. The Final Statement will also be posted to this webpage upon completion of this rulemaking.

Public Notice and Related Documents

Emergency Regulations: June 5, 2026